Chapter 26 — Forest Keeper

One month after the arrest, the first instance trial of Ta Quoc Bao and his accomplices was held at the provincial court, attracting the attention of the local press and a number of central media agencies interested in the issue of forest and wildlife protection. Khue, along with her mother and younger brother, were present at the trial as people with related rights and obligations, representing the victim's family.

During the three-day trial, the evidence was presented in detail — from the video recorded at the gathering site, Trieu Van Pao's testimony about his coerced role, Ma Van Loc's testimony about the fateful meeting eight years ago, to the testimony of Ta Quoc Bao himself, who finally had to admit to the entire crime under the weight of irrefutable evidence.

When the presiding judge announced the verdict — Ta Quoc Bao received a life sentence for the particularly serious crime of murder and forest destruction, and the other accomplices received sentences commensurate with their respective roles, Vi Dinh Thuan was sentenced to many years in prison for accepting bribes and abusing his position of power — Khue sat silently, feeling a deep sense of relief spread throughout her body, as if a burden that had been weighing on her shoulders for the past eight years had finally been completely lifted.

Mrs. Hoa, sitting next to her, held her daughter's hand tightly, tears rolling down, but they were no longer tears of suffering, but of a rare serenity. "Your father can truly rest in peace now," she whispered.

In the sentencing section for subjects with secondary roles, the court also considered the case of Trieu Van Pao, who actively cooperated and provided important information to help solve the case even though he himself had participated in a number of violations under duress. Thanks to these extenuating circumstances, along with the leniency application signed by Khue and Ngan May station, Pao only had to endure a suspended sentence with community service obligations, was able to return to live with his family, and continue working in the fields as before.

When the trial ended, Pao went to meet Khue right in the court hallway, bowed his head and thanked him profusely, his voice choked up. "Thank you, Ms. Khue. Without your help, I don't know what my life and my family would be like."

"You were brave enough to do the right thing when it was needed most," Khue replied, smiling at him. "That's the most important thing. From now on, try to live well, take care of your family, that's the best way to atone for what has happened."

After the trial, another important event took place at Ngan May station - a ceremony to award a certificate of merit and recognize a martyr to Mr. Nong Van Thai, solemnly held with the participation of leaders of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, representatives of the Da Vach district government, along with a large number of former colleagues and people from neighboring villages who heard the news and came to share joy and condolences with the family.

During the ceremony, a certificate of merit was solemnly awarded to Ms. Hoa, recognizing Mr. Nong Van Thai's contributions and sacrifices while on duty to protect the forest and fight against environmental crimes. His portrait, enlarged and solemnly hung in the station's traditional room, where previously there were only blurred group photos, has now become a symbol, a reminder to all future generations of rangers about the commitment and sacrifice necessary to protect precious forests.

"The representative of the Provincial Forest Protection Department would like to send deep gratitude to the family of martyr Nong Van Thai," the leader said, his voice solemn and emotional. "His sacrifice is not only a personal loss for his family, but also a common loss for the entire forest ranger industry, and for the forests that he devoted his entire life to preserving. Today, we not only honor him, but also pledge to continue the path he has chosen, protecting the forests to the end."

Khue stood up to speak on behalf of her family. Her voice was initially shaky but gradually became steady when she saw familiar faces around her - her mother, younger brother, Nguyen, May, Mr. Chinh, Loc, and even the villagers who came to share this belated joy with her family.

"Eight years ago, my family lost a husband, a father, in a hidden truth," she said, her voice echoing throughout the silent listening station yard. "During those eight years, I lived with unanswered questions, with suspicions that no one dared to confirm. But I never gave up the belief that my father fell for a noble reason — out of love and responsibility for this forest."

She stopped for a moment, looking towards Pu Cai peak in the distance, which now no longer carries the haunting sadness, but has become a symbol of sacrifice and courage. "Today, the truth has been recognized, my father's honor has been restored. But what is most important, I think, is that together we have proven that justice, although it may come late, will still come, as long as we do not stop fighting for it."

Applause echoed throughout the yard, mixed with emotional tears from many people present. Mr. Chinh, standing in the front row, could not hide his tears, while Loc stood next to him, his face both relieved and full of thoughts about what he had gone through during eight years of torment.

After the ceremony, when the guests gradually left, Khue led his mother and younger brother to visit the rescue area and introduced Nau - who was now much larger, his pure black fur with the characteristic white fur strip was almost complete, just missing a little more size to reach full adult size.

"This is Nau, the baby langur that I saved right at the beginning, when everything started," Khue introduced, her voice filled with pride. "It's been with me through all the things that have just happened."

Mrs. Hoa looked at the baby langur through the mesh fence, a gentle smile on her lips. "It's so beautiful. You've done a great job, both with your work and with preserving my memory."

Khue looked at Brown climbing flexibly on the tree branches in the barn, a mixed feeling of pride and peace rose in her heart. The journey of the baby langur, from a small orphaned creature in the deep forest to a healthy, confident individual, almost ready to return to nature, is also her own journey - from a girl carrying unanswered pain and doubts, to a woman who has found truth, justice, and love, to continue firmly on the path her father opened.

Kien stood next to the barn, looking at Brown with the excitement of someone witnessing for the first time what his sister did every day. "Sister, after this incident, do you plan to continue working as a ranger here forever? Or are you thinking about changing jobs, closer to home?"

Khue smiled, looking out at the dark green forest stretching behind the station, where white clouds still lazily drifted across the mountain peaks as they had done for hundreds of years. "I will stay here, Kien. This is where my father lived, worked, and sacrificed for him. Now, after everything that has happened, I see more clearly than ever, this is where I belong."

Nguyen, standing nearby listening, smiled slightly, his eyes filled with deep sympathy. He knew that Khue's decision was not just a career choice, but a lifelong commitment to the land, to the forest, and to the memory of her father who became the inspiration for her entire life.

That late afternoon, when the last sunlight of the day dyed the entire Ngan May mountain area yellow, Khue's family and close friends stood together in front of the station's traditional room, looking up at the portrait of Mr. Nong Van Thai smiling gently from the photo frame, as if he were watching, witnessing and proud of what his daughter had done to continue the path he had chosen.

Before leaving the station to return to Sai village, Mrs. Hoa held Khue's hand tightly, her eyes filled with love and a peace of mind that she had never felt in the past eight years. "I can rest assured now, knowing you are in a good place, surrounded by good people, and with a good man by your side," she said, glancing meaningfully at Nguyen, making him blush. "Your father will definitely be happy to see you as happy as you are now."

"I will come back to visit mom more often," Khue promised, hugging her mother tightly one last time before she got in the car. "And mom, remember to take care of your health, don't work too hard at the grocery store."

Watching the car carrying her mother and younger brother disappear behind the curve of the mountain road, Khue felt a complete peace spread throughout her soul, for the first time after eight long years of pain and unanswered questions.